I have been involved in community projects since my work began in the mid 90’s. It is one of the most satisfying areas of my work and was the inspiration behind creating the Living Dance Training (LINK)- educating others so as the dance work could reach a broader scope of communities. Whether I go to an already existent community group, or create a group that is interested in the idea of a community involved project, the dance work always touches and opens a deep chord in the bodies, hearts and minds of people.

We in this time in our evolution, more than ever before, need to find authentic and meaningful ways to come together that deepen our connection to ourselves, each other, the environment and the planet. What I see from my involvement in communities is a longing by individuals to contribute through art, movement, expression and the sharing of our stories. People need to build their internal resources to not only cope with this ever fast and developing society but to strengthen our desire to wake up and attend to our lives with strength, commitment and consciousness.

Living Dance provides this space, this forum, for individuals and communities to contribute to our world in a positive and inspiring way.

The Moving Stories of Women and the Ran Away project are excellent examples of Living Dance bringing out the inner voice of individuals and communities or existing groups. Living Dance is available to groups who want to document their stories and experiences through the creative process, either in the studio or we can come to you.

Take one expressive dance movement therapist, one writer and one photographer. Add twelve other women, fifteen journals, several reams of paper, four boxes of crayons, forty-five metres of fabric and ten dye buckets. Mix all together over nine moths then sift out the best bits. Exhibit.

The Moving Stories of Women project participants are from many walks of life. Through movement, they are expressing and exploring their stories. Responding to the movement process through writing and drawing captures chapters of their experience. Creating individual fabric pieces draws on age-old feminine traditions and deepens the documentation process.

Essentially, the project sprang out of two strong impulses; to share the raw, beautiful work of a group with the public, and to raise public awareness around the active dance therapy community in Western Australia.

The exhibition was a journey through the project in photos, writing, drawings and fabrics. Some visitors also had an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the material by participating in a short, free workshop during the exhibition period.

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Living Dance in collaboration with Ishar Multi- Cultural Center for Women’s Health presented an evocative dance drama performed at Kulcha in May - June 2005. The community project depicted the tragedy, hope, and courage of refugee women’s journeys and eventual integration into society. Performed by a dynamic mix of migrant and refugee women who used innovative and authentic dance forms that portrayed the raw emotion, horror and turmoil at the heart of the refugee issue today.

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